In search of the church...

It is no secret that I have long been fascinated with the church of Rome; the desire to cross the Tiber has not been minimal.  On the other hand, my devotion to "Jack" of Oxbridge (i.e. C.S. Lewis) made me believe that I could stand with him, a "mere Christian".  Unfortunately, I am now convinced that Lewis' attempt at unity is, in the end, a failure (though a brilliant work nonetheless).

I believe that if Protestants are to remain separated from Rome, we must provide justification for our continued separation.  That is, the burden of proof lies with us.  For the Roman Catholic church (henceforth 'RC') has a legitimate claim to apostolic succession and visible unity, and Protestants need to provide sufficient reason for breaking away from such succession and unity.  Our Protestant forefathers believed that they possessed adequate reason, especially the magisterial reformers.  However, if no good reason can be given for remaining separated, I believe it is incumbent on the Protestant to return to Rome.*

In my attempt to avoid a drastic religious change due to a whimsical fling (though hardly a fling since my vision Romewards began in 2001), I have decided to take the next two years in a final effort to remain loyal to Protestantism.  To that end, I will be re-reading various texts by the reformers (much of which I have read, but now in the framework of desiring to stay on their side) and will evaluate which team I should play on.

Thus, I begin where, in one sense, it all began--with our good friend Martin Luther.  As I engage his works, I will be posting on my thoughts and reflections from time to time.

What I ask of you, dear friends, is to pray for me and my family, and especially to help us if we are going astray or making any serious error by providing your thoughts, comments, questions and especially criticisms.  The goal is not to be provocative but to desperately seek after the one whom my soul longs after, our mutual Lord, Jesus Christ.  I pray that any decision I make will be informed by a desire to follow after my Master.


Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix, ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

-e



*(It should be evident that I'm leaving the Orthodox church [henceforth 'EO' for Eastern Orthodoxy... yes, yes, I know that there is also a western rite... but c'mon, then you get the cool moniker] on the sidelines.  EO also has a legitimate claim to apostolic succession and, to some degree, visible unity.  Although I have read quite a bit of EO literature, my studies of it have been far less than my investigation into all things RC.  To make up for that, when I am finished with my planned course of reading the reformers, I will turn my sight next onto EO before making any final decision regarding any allegiance to RC).